With its second, self-titled CD, the fivesome of Kelly Clancy on guitar and vocals, Elise Miklich on vocals, Garrett Koloski on percussion, Logan Messina on guitar and Ryan Chapman on bass shows a keen, poetic and well-developed eye on the world.

The acoustic sound's at turns times soothing and edgy.

Guest musician Amanda Eicholzer's violin work brings a warm country feel to "Stacking Stones," and the temperature's turned up on "Infidelity."

The lyrics mostly cut deep.

"Ragdoll" brings the turmoil of personal relationships to a full boil with the soul-baring verse: "Follow your words, they fill my head every night before we go to bed. Pull the string and hear me say a charming lie, a soothing phrase. I am a broken doll, your little ragdoll. I take it in, I stand it all."

These seven original songs were all inspired by "whatever life throws at you, good or bad," the musicians declare.

There's definitely a measure of satisfaction in the opening cut, "July," as Miklich sings with the enthusiasm of youth, "We've got time to waste. Yeah, we've got time."

But they give the impression that they try to make the most of every minute.

Catch a show: White Picket Fence plays at 5 p.m. Friday at the Shamballa Cafe in Baldwinsville and at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Red Planet Skate Park in Oswego.

The Ithaca heavy metal band that adopted the term as its name obviously takes it seriously.

Singer Tom Burchinal, guitarists Diwas Gurung and Shikhar Bajracharya, bassist Dan Halperin and drummer Mike Parker pepper debut CD "Being" with a take on life that's part mystical, part melodious and part angry.

In "Universal Mind" Burchinal deeply sings, "Your fragrance spices my power to see the future and all the past lives we've spent. Profound this lesson: Expanding consciousness."

The tide turns on "Borderline" with "Bark bark, little doggy. I'm never letting go of this leash. ... I'll choke you out before I let go."

Here's my Post-Standard review for the Chris Terra Band's "The Blues Is Drivin'" and "Whiskey Hill."

Guitarist and singer Chris Terra's already put 16 of his original songs out there with "The Blues Is Drivin'¤" from 2007 and "Whiskey Hill" from 2006.

Both batches show that there's much more to Terra's band than the hot covers that make fans dance at his bar gigs.

"Liquor is Quicker" captures a time-tested blues sentiment on the former, with a gut-burning harmonica run by Mike Petroff. "Blue Collar Bluesman" tells Terra's tale straight and true as he sings "We don't make much money, but baby, we're sure havin' fun. ... Just a juke joint singer tryin' to be a local star."

Terra and mates already are working on CD No. 3, "Diesel," and that's good news for Syracuse blues.

Catch a show: The Chris Terra Band plays at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at J.P.'s Tavern in Baldwinsville.